The HIO cross-cultural competency training is designed to equip employers, HR Professionals, and people managers with practical skills, strategies and tools needed to increase cultural competencies and prepare workplaces for a culturally diverse employee base.
Why Cross-Cultural Competency?
There are seven modules in this suite of professional development training sessions. These stand-alone sessions give you the flexibility of choosing the topics of interest to you or most relevant to your workplace. Each session is delivered in a small group setting, by a professional facilitator with expertise in cultural competency.
You will receive a Cross-Cultural Competency Certificate of Training after completing four sessions.
These interactive virtual workshops are delivered via the Zoom platform.
Sessions are free, but space is limited. You must register in advance.
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Inter-Cultural Problem-Solving Strategies
Most intercultural workplace conflict is related to perceptual differences. In this session we will discuss: developing strategies to identify and address communication style differences; learning when and how to address non-verbal issues of concern; using a problem-solving paradigm to analyze case studies; and identifying aspects of culture that may be present in workplace interactions.
Learning Objectives: In this session you will learn:
1) To identify and address communication style differences and non-verbal issues in the workplace
2) To identify potential Hofstede Dimensions as part of behavioral interactions in the workplace
3) How to apply a cross-cultural problem-solving paradigm in your workplace.
January 23, 2025 (1:30pm – 3:30pm)
Register Here.
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Introduction to Cultural Competency Building
In this interactive session we will explore and build the foundation of effective communication between new Canadians and their Canadian employers. Topics covered include: perception – and how it affects workplace communication; understanding how cultural adaptation affects workplace effectiveness; communication styles (how we interact through conversation; non-verbal communication (75% of our message); and problem-solving – cross-cultural case studies.
Learning Objectives: In this Learning Session you will learn:
1) How to apply five key cultural competency components in your workplace.
2) How to effectively perceive, interpret and evaluate workplace behaviours and challenges with skilled immigrants.
February 11, 2025 (10:00am – 12:00pm)
Register Here.
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Creating the Workplace that Accommodates Effectively
In this interactive session, we will explore keys to successful accommodation strategies, focusing on: the relationship between cultural integration and accommodation; accommodating different cultural norms and reasonable practices in accommodation; systemic inclusion and accommodation; and using a problem-solving paradigm to analyze case studies.
Learning Objectives: In this Learning Session you will learn:
1) Creative strategies that can move your diversity & inclusion policies and efforts forward
2) To integrate different cultural norms and reasonable practices when accommodating skilled immigrants
February 27, 2025 (1:30pm – 3:30pm)
Register Here.
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Performance Management and Feedback
In this interactive session, we will explore effective communication techniques for providing newcomer employees with day-to-day as well as performance evaluation feedback; use information on perceptual differences, communication styles and cultural conditioning to explore the effectiveness of current feedback styles and address potential adjustments to those styles; and use a problem-solving paradigm to analyze and practice case studies that address feedback situations.
Learning Objective – In this session you will learn:
1) Effective communication techniques for providing day-to-day and performance evaluation feedback.
2) Strategies to assist newcomers participate effectively in the performance management process.
When: TBD
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Effective Cultural Adaptation Strategies
Through research, we can now describe the profile of the person who adapts inter-culturally (both to culture and to workplace) most effectively. In this session we will focus on: exploring the adaptation process and the strategies that make it successful; a self-assessment tool (used by both new Canadians and multicultural workplaces) that not only identifies one’s personal areas of strength and challenge in adaptation but also provides action plans for addressing areas of challenge; and identifying aspects of culture that may appear in the workplace.
Learning Objective – In this session you will learn:
1) Practical tips and strategies to help you adapt your workplace for a diverse employee base.
2) How cultural adaptation can improve workplace effectiveness.
When: TBD
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Culturally Competent Interviewing Skills
In this interactive learning session, we will explore how the sending and receiving of messages during the interview can lead to misinterpretations and misconceptions. We will use a paradigm to build skills that are interpreted congruently by both the interviewer and the Internationally Educated Professional who is interviewing. We will also address and respond to best practices in the Ontario Human Rights Code Removing the “Canadian Experience” Barrier Guide for Employers and Regulatory Bodies.
Learning Objectives: In this Learning Session you will learn:
1) How to apply cross-cultural communication tools in interviews.
2) Practical tips and strategies to help you identify and address communication style and non-verbal issues in interview settings
When: TBD